The application be that Dec 16, application number in 2003 are 200380109309.4 the applying date, denomination of invention divides an application for the application for a patent for invention of " signal conditioning package and information processing method ".
Summary of the invention
In view of the problems referred to above of related art have been made the present invention, an object of the present invention is to provide a kind of signal conditioning package and information processing method, wherein, customer side obtains the characteristic information of the content that server was had by the various contents of storage in more detailed mode, and when data that customer side shows based on the information updating that sends from server, can understand in advance the content of allow to upgrade processing, thereby give just can to carry out easy and suitable characteristic information renewal in the situation that the user still less bears.
In addition, another object of the present invention provides a kind of signal conditioning package and information processing method, wherein based on the request from customer side, can obtain and to be had or the detailed data pattern of the content that provides by server, ATRAC3 for example, ATRAC3PLLUS, MPEG1, MPEG2, the details of MPEG4 etc., thereby the data that realized the optimum of the function match that has with customer side send and reproduction processes etc., and wherein above-mentioned server is to provide for available each content of the individual server that provides server and voice data that server is provided such as view data.
A first aspect of the present invention is a kind of for sending the signal conditioning package that request sends content-data in response to the content from client computer, it is characterized in that comprising:
The data input and data output unit is used for processing via network execution and the data input and data output of client computer;
Content storage unit is used for memory contents;
Content management units is used for managed storage in the content of described content storage unit;
Metadata storage unit is used for storage as the metadata of content character information;
The attribute information acquiring unit is used for extracting attribute information from described metadata storage unit, and this attribute information is the single information of described metadata; And
Send data generating unit, be used for generating the data that will send to client computer based on the attribute information that is obtained by described attribute information acquiring unit;
Wherein said content management units is carried out Content Management by following operation:
Define single content and store the file of a plurality of contents as object as object and definition;
The definition class is as the information of the category classification of denoted object, so that a plurality of class has hierarchical structure;
The class of indication category classification is set to each object; And
The contents directory that has hierarchical structure by use is managed a plurality of objects;
Described metadata storage unit is stored about each object:
The a plurality of attribute informations that comprise the identification information of object;
The category information of the category classification of denoted object;
The information that the hierarchical structure of the contents directory that belongs to object is relevant, described attribute information acquiring unit obtains request in response to the attribute information with class appointment from client computer that described data input and data output unit receives, and extracts the attribute information that is included in the specified class;
The transmission data that described transmission data generating unit generates comprise:
Attribute information by described attribute information acquiring unit extraction; And
The information of the permissible value of the data of the attribute information that can be set to extract, and
Described data input and data output unit sends the transmission data that generated by described transmission data generating unit to client computer.
In addition, in an embodiment of signal conditioning package of the present invention, this signal conditioning package is characterised in that described transmission data generating unit generates the transmission data of the data layout that meets XML (extend markup language).
In addition, in an embodiment of signal conditioning package of the present invention, this signal conditioning package is characterised in that, do not have the attribute information of class appointment to obtain request if described data input and data output unit receives from client computer, then described transmission data generating unit generates the list information of the class of being managed by described content management units as the transmission data to client computer.
In addition, in an embodiment of signal conditioning package of the present invention, this signal conditioning package is characterised in that, if the attribute information that is extracted by described attribute information acquiring unit is coding/decoding information, then described transmission data generating unit generation comprises that the transmission data of many information relevant with the data compression process pattern are as the permissible value information that can arrange.
A second aspect of the present invention is a kind of for sending the information processing method that the content-data transmission processing is carried out in request in response to the content from client computer, it is characterized in that comprising:
The Object Management group step, thus this step by with the contents directory with hierarchical structure, by define file that single content is comprised of a plurality of contents as object and definition as object, define class and manage a plurality of objects as the information of the category classification of denoted object so that a plurality of class has hierarchical structure and defined class is set to each object;
Plant characteristic data management step, this step comprises the category information, the relevant information of hierarchical structure of the contents directory that belongs to object of category classification of many attribute informations, the denoted object of the identification information of object about attribute information management, wherein this attribute information is the single information that is included in as in the metadata of Properties of Objects information;
Attribute information obtains the request receiving step, and the attribute information with class appointment that this step receives from client computer obtains request;
The attribute information obtaining step, this step is extracted the single attribute information that is included in the specified class;
Send data and generate step, this step generates and sends data, and these transmissions data comprise the information of permissible value of the data of the attribute information that extracts and the attribute information that can be set to extract; And
Data sending step, this step send the transmission data that generate to client computer.
A third aspect of the present invention is a kind of signal conditioning package for carrying out the content information transmission processing, it is characterized in that comprising:
Content information obtains the request receiving unit, and the content information that receives from customer side obtains request;
The content information generation unit by extract the metadata as content character information from storage unit, generates the content information that will send to customer side based on the attribute information as the metadata component; And
The content information transmitting element sends the content information generate to customer side via the data input and data output unit,
Wherein, the content information generation unit is carried out the content information generation of the data edition information of every the attribute information permission that is used for each attribute of definition and is processed,
Come management of metadata based on the class that is set to classifying content; And
The content information generation unit is configured to carry out following processing, wherein is created on the list information of the class of managing in the signal conditioning package as the transmission information to customer side in response to the content information that does not have the class appointment request of obtaining that receives from customer side.
A fourth aspect of the present invention is a kind of signal conditioning package for carrying out the content information transmission processing, it is characterized in that comprising:
Content information obtains the request receiving unit, and the content information that receives from customer side obtains request;
Content information generates step, by extract the metadata as content character information from storage unit, generates the content information that will send to customer side based on the attribute information as the metadata component; And
The content information transmitting element sends the content information generate to customer side via the data input and data output unit;
Wherein, described content information generation unit is carried out and is comprised by its generation of content information that can judge the data pattern information of the processing power in the customer side equipment and processing, as the data pattern information of the content-data that can be sent to customer side,
Manage described metadata based on the class that is set to classifying content; And
Described content information generation unit is configured to carry out the list information that wherein is created on the class of managing in the described signal conditioning package as the processing to the transmission information of customer side in response to the content information that does not have the class appointment request of obtaining from customer side of receiving.
A fifth aspect of the present invention is a kind of information processing method for carrying out the content information transmission processing, it is characterized in that comprising:
Content information obtains the request receiving step, and the content information that receives from customer side obtains request;
Content information generates step, by extract the metadata as content character information from storage unit, generates the content information that will send to customer side based on the attribute information as the metadata component; And
The content information forwarding step sends the content information generate to customer side via the data input and data output unit;
Wherein, generate in the step at content information, the content information of carrying out the data edition information of every the attribute information permission that is used for each attribute of definition generates to be processed,
Based on the class management of metadata that is set to classifying content; And
Content information generates step and carries out following processing, wherein is created on the list information of the class of managing in the signal conditioning package as the transmission information to customer side in response to the content information that does not have the class appointment request of obtaining that receives from customer side.
A sixth aspect of the present invention is a kind of information processing method for carrying out the content information transmission processing, it is characterized in that comprising:
Content information obtains the request receiving step, and the content information that receives from customer side obtains request;
Content information generates step, by extract the metadata as content character information from storage unit, generates the content information that will send to customer side based on the attribute information as the metadata component; And
The content information forwarding step sends the content information generate to customer side via the data input and data output unit;
Wherein, generate in the step at described content information, carry out and comprise by its generation of content information that can judge the data pattern information of the processing power in the customer side equipment and processing, as the data pattern information of the content-data that can be sent to customer side,
Based on the class management of metadata that is set to classifying content; And
Content information generates step and carries out following processing, wherein is created on the list information of the class of managing in the signal conditioning package as the transmission information to customer side in response to the content information that does not have the class appointment request of obtaining that receives from customer side.
Embodiment
Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, the details of signal conditioning package of the present invention and information processing method and computer program has been described.
[system scans]
At first, with reference to figure 1, the example of the present invention's network configuration applicatory is described below.Fig. 1 shows the configuration such as the home network configuration, wherein, connect via network 100 in response to the server 101 of carrying out processing from the processing request of various customer side devices and as send the PC 121, monitor 122, mobile phone 123, player 124, the PDA 125 that process the customer side device of asking to server 101.Various other electronic equipments are also with electric home appliances and be can be used as the customer side device and connect.
Comprised in response to the processing of carrying out from the request of customer side by server 101: provide to be stored in memory storage such as the content in the hard disk that is had by server 101, perhaps can be provided data to process service by the application program that server is carried out by carrying out.Although server 101 and customer side device are illustrated as two autonomous devices in Fig. 1, only provide the equipment of service to be illustrated as server in response to the request from customer side.Provide the data of self to process service can be provided as server to any customer side device of other customer side function.Thereby the customer side device that is connected to network shown in Fig. 1 also can be used as server.
Network 100 is wired or wireless network, and institute's connection device is via network 100 sending and receiving communication packet, such as Ethernet (Ethernet, registered trademark) frame.That is, customer side sends to server 101 and sends data processing request to server 101 by the ethernet frame that will process solicited message and be stored in the frame data parts.In case receive this processing claim frame, server 101 executing datas are processed, if necessary then will be stored in the data division of communication packet as the result data that data processed result generates, and send this and be grouped into customer side.
The equipment that is connected to network is the equipment of for example following universal plug and play (UPnP).Thereby, can at an easy rate equipment be added network and delete from network.The equipment that newly is connected to network is carried out following operation:
(1) addressing is processed, and is used for obtaining the device id of himself, such as the IP address.
(2) find to process, be used at the network search equipment, in case receive from the replying of equipment, obtain this information such as device type and function in replying that is included in.
(3) services request is processed, and being used for provides service based on processing the information inquiry facility that obtains by discovery.
By carrying out above-mentioned processing procedure, can receive by application and be connected to the service that the equipment of network provides.
With reference to figure 2, the example as the hardware configuration of the PC of the example of the signal conditioning package that forms server shown in Figure 1 and customer side device is described below.
CPU (CPU (central processing unit)) 201 carries out various types of processing to be used as data processing equipment or communication control processor according to the program that is stored among ROM (ROM (read-only memory)) 202, the HDD 204 etc.RAM203 stores the program of being carried out by CPU 201 and also stores if necessary data.CPU 201, ROM 202, RAM 203, HDD 204 are connected to each other via bus 205.
Input/output interface 206 is connected to bus 205.Input block 207 and output unit 208 are connected to this input/output interface 206, the keyboard that input block 207 is operated by the user, switch, button, mouse etc. form, and output unit 208 forms that by LCD, CRT and loudspeaker etc. various types of information are presented to the user.Be connected to this input/output interface 206 and also have as the communication unit 209 of data input and data output device and detachable recording medium 211 such as disk, CD, magneto-optic disk or semiconductor memory and can add driving 210 on it, this drive 210 can from/to detachable recording medium 211 read/write data.
Configuration shown in Fig. 2 is server or as the example of the personal computer (PC) of the example of the equipment that is connected to network shown in Fig. 1.The equipment that is connected to network is not limited to PC but can comprise such as the portable communication appts of mobile phone and PDA and various electronic equipment and signal conditioning package such as player and display as shown in Figure 1.Thereby equipment can have the hardware configuration of himself to process according to this hardware implement.
[metadata]
Next, the metadata that has had by wherein having stored the server that will offer the content of customer side is described below.Server has the characteristic information as metadata, wherein characteristic information corresponding to be stored in its storage unit such as the view data of rest image and moving image with such as the content of the voice data of music.
The all like still image that server has and the view data of moving image and be collectively referred to as the AV content as the content of the voice data of music.The AV content is managed by the hierarchical structure contents directory in the server.
This contents directory has the hierarchical structure that is comprised of the file that perhaps comprises a plurality of AV contents in the single AV.The element of contents directory, namely each AV content or comprise the file of a plurality of AV contents is known as object.To as if be used for the generic term of the handled data cell of server, and except single AV content or comprise the file of a plurality of AV contents, also have various objects.
The least unit of AV content, such as a segment of music data, segment of motion image data or a segment of Still image data are known as item.
Can be with object classification to a plurality of classes according to type, for example music (Audio), video (Video) and picture (Photo), and each object to be marked (label) be class.Customer side can specify concrete class only to belong to the object of particular category and carry out it with search.In server, equally with the hierarchical structure administrative class, under each class subclass is arranged.
Metadata is comprised of various types of management information, comprises the hierarchical information of the corresponding characteristic information of the content that has with server, class definition information, component content catalogue.Metadata as corresponding to the characteristic information on the content of each object definition, comprises various types of information, such as the copyright information of identifier (ID), size of data, resource information, title, artist (artist) name, content.Every the information that comprises in the metadata is called attribute.For above-mentioned each class such as music (Audio), video (Video), picture (Photo), pre-defined metadata should have any attribute.
[processing of carrying out based on the attribute information customer side that obtains]
For example, want the customer side of reproducing content can send content requests to server, receive from the content of being asked of server, the content that reproducing received arrives.With reference to figure 3, general content playback process is described below.At first, at step S11, customer side sends the request of obtaining of the content information that server is had.At step S12, in response to the request from customer side, server, then sends the information that produces and arrives customer side such as title and artist's name based on using XML (extend markup language) data to produce content information corresponding to the metadata of content.
At step S13, customer side is according to the XML information displaying contents information on display that receives.For example, in the situation of music content, the corresponding music title tabulation of a plurality of music clip that demonstration and server have, artist's name, recovery time etc.
Next, at step S14, the customer selecting on the customer set up will arrive server from song and the transmission content appointed information (for example, content ID) that server receives to reproduce.Server obtains content and sends this content from memory storage based on the content appointed information that receives.At step S16, customer side reproduces the content that receives from server.If according to the compression such as ATRAC, MPEG, then contract at the customer side decompress(ion) and reproduce this content.
Common content playback process as mentioned above.Customer side can obtain various types of content character information, namely is included in the attribute information in the corresponding metadata of the content that has with server.This attribute information comprises rewritable.Therefore, the user can be presented at content information on the customer side equipment based on the XML information rewriting that receives from server, for example, the data on the contents list, interpolation or deletion that perhaps can executing data be processed.
[editor of attribute information]
In structure of the present invention, in response to from the user be customer side to the request to content information of server, comprise that the XML data of data edition information are produced and send to customer side.Allow data edition information to being included in corresponding to every attribute information in the metadata of content, more particularly, the rewriting of its permission attribute information by whether process, add process, the Data Update license/prohibition information that forms is processed in deletion and the data value of inputting such as the permission that allows the type of data format of inputting, the digital scope of permission etc.
Based on the XML data that formed by attribute information that receive from server, for every attribute information, the customer side machine generates demonstration information (UI: user interface), wherein the user can identify various types of edit files, the digital scope of the data type of whether permitting such as rewrite to process waiting, allowing to input, the data that can input, and it is presented on the display such as contents list as demonstration information.Therefore, the user can carry out suitable Data Update based on content information such as the contents list that wherein can identify edit file.
One string sequence is described below, wherein, is included in as the attribute information in the metadata of the characteristic information of content and is sent to customer side from server, and the customer side machine upgrades with executing data based on the information displaying contents information that receives and processes.
Fig. 4 shows the string manipulation sequence between the server and customer side in the renewal of attribute information is processed.
At first, at step S21, the content information that the customer side request server has.Here, send order [X_GETSchema] to server.Order [X_GETSchema] is explainable order in the equipment of configuration system of the present invention, and the server that has received this order is according to the attribute information generation XML data of this request based on composition and various objects such as the corresponding metadata of content.
Which object customer side can specify about namely about the content obtaining attribute information of which kind of type.For example, customer side is specified a class from above-mentioned class such as music (Audio), video (Video), picture (Photo), and carries out being included in the request of obtaining of the attribute information in this specified class.In this case, the class name is added to order [X_GETSchema] and this order sent to server.
In case receive the request of obtaining to attribute information from customer side, server for example obtains the respective meta-data with the corresponding content of specified class from memory storage, and generates the XML data that comprise the attribute information that will send to customer side based on the metadata of obtaining.At step S22, server sends the XML data that generate and arrives customer side.
In structure of the present invention, in response to being that customer side is to the request to content information of server from the user, for being included in corresponding to every attribute information in the metadata of content, server produces the XML data that comprise data edition information, wherein this data edition information is various types of by whether permitting the Data Update license/prohibition information that rewriting processing, interpolation, deletion etc. form and allow the type of data format of inputting, the data value that can input etc. that then server sends these XML data to customer side.
Based on the XML data that formed by attribute information that receive from server, for every attribute information, the customer side machine generates demonstration information (UI: user interface), the user can identify rewriting processing, interpolation, deletion etc. and whether permit, allows the data layout of inputting, the data value that can input etc. thereon, and it is presented on the display as demonstration information.Therefore, displaying contents information such as contents list allows the user to carry out suitable Data Update on display.
Fig. 5 shows by the example that is included in the XML data that form corresponding to many attribute informations in the metadata of content, and it is sent to customer side from server.In the structure of Fig. 5, data division 301,302,303,304 each be the XML data relevant with every the attribute information that forms metadata.
For example, data division 301 has following structure.
<
av:PropertyInfo>
<
av:PropertyName>dc:title<
/av:PropertyName>
<
av:MinOccurred>1<
/av:MinOccurred>
<
av:MaxOccurred>1<
/av:MaxOccurred>
<
av:OperationCode>rcw<
/av:OperationCode>
<
/av:PropertyInfo>
The detailed meanings of the descriptive data of XML data has been shown among Fig. 6.<
Av:PropertyInfo〉indication attribute information beginning.<
Av:PropertyName〉dc:title<
/ av:PropertyName〉to indicate the name of this attribute be title (title).<
Av:MinOccurred〉1<
/ av:MinOccurred〉indicate the existing minimum value of this attribute information.<
Av:MaxOccurred〉1<
/ av:MaxOccurred〉indicate the existing maximal value of this attribute information.Aforesaid example indication attribute [title] has a minimum value and a maximal value, namely must have one.
<
Av:OperationCode〉rcw<
/ av:OperationCode〉be comprise this attribute edit file the processing code and have following implication.
R... be present in from the object that server returns, for example browse (Browse) and search (Search)
C... permit when creating object (CreateObject) designated
W... permit by upgating object (UpdataObject) and rewrite
A... permitting by upgating object (UpdataObject) increases
D... permit by upgating object (UpdataObject) and delete
S... permit by browsing (Browse)/search (Search) and be comprised in the order standard (SortCriteria)
Above-mentioned attribute [title] is<
Av:OperationCode〉rcw<
/ av:OperationCode 〉, wherein found setting [w].Be appreciated that this attribute is to upgrade the data of processing rewriting in (UpdateObject) by the user.<
/ av:PropertyInfo〉indication attribute information end.
The data division 302 of Fig. 5 has following structure.
<
av:PropertyInfo>
<
av:PropertyName>upnp:artist<
/av:PropertyName>
<
av:MinOccurred>0<
/av:MinOccurred>
<
av:MaxOccurred>1<
/av:MaxOccurred>
<
av:OperationCode>rcwad<
/av:OperationCode>
<
/av:PropertyInfo>
In above-mentioned attribute information, the attribute name is [artist (artist)], and this indicates it is artist's attribute information.<
Av:OperationCode〉rcwad<
/ av:OperationCode〉in, being provided with [r, c, w, a, d], this indicates this is to upgrade the data of processing rewriting in (UpdateObject), can increasing (a), can delete (d) by the user.
The data division 303 of Fig. 5 has following structure.
<
av:PropertyInfo>
<
av:PropertyName>av:recordQualityLevel<
/av:PropertyName>
<
av:MinOccurred>1<
/av:MinOccurred>
<
av:MaxOccurred>1<
/av:MaxOccurred>
<
av:OperationCode>rcw<
/av:OperationCode>
<av:AllowedValueRange>
<
av:MinOccurred>3<
/av:MinOccurred>
<
av:MaxOccurred>5<
/av:MaxOccurred>
<
/av:Step>1<
/av:Step>
<
/av:AllowedValueRange>
<
/av:PropertyInfo>
Above-mentioned data indication attribute [record quality level (recording quality rank)].In this structure, the below is the value scope of permission in the indication attribute [record quality level] and the data of step-length (increment) thereof.
<av:AllowedValueRange>
<
av:MinOccurred>3<
/av:MinOccurred>
<
av:MaxOccurred>5<
/av:MaxOccurred>
<
/av:Step>1<
/av:Step>
<
/av:AllowedValueRange>
That is, for attribute [record quality level], it is 1 that 3 to 5 value and step-length are set.Therefore, can understand and each can be worth 3,4,5 and be set to [record quality level].
The data division 304 of Fig. 5 has following data structure.
<
av:PropertyInfo>
<
av:PropertyName>av:recordStatus<
/av:PropertyName>
<
av:MinOccurred>1<
/av:MinOccurred>
<
av:MaxOccurred>1<
/av:MaxOccurred>
<
av:OperationCode>r<
/av:OperationCode>
<
av:AllowedValueList>
<
av:AllowedValue>NotYet<
/av:AllowedValue>
<
av:AllowedValue>Timed<
/av:AllowedValue>
<
av:AllowedValue>Recording<
/av:AllowedValue>
<
av:AllowedValue>Recorded<
/av:AllowedValue>
<
/av:AllowedValueList>
<
/av:PropertyInfo>
Above-mentioned data are the data about attribute [recording status (recordStatus)].In this structure, the below is the table data of the value of permission in the attribute [recording status (recordStatus)].
<
av:AllowedValueList>
<
av:AllowedValue>NotYet<
/av:AllowedValue>
<
av:AllowedValue>Timed<
/av:AllowedValue>
<
av:AllowedValue>Recording<
/av:AllowedValue>
<
av:AllowedValue>Recorded<
/av:AllowedValue>
<
/av:AllowedValueList>
Can understand and in attribute [recording status (recordStatus)], allow four values (NotYet), (Timed), (Recording), (Recorded) as the value that can arrange.
In this way, the attribute information that sends to customer side from server comprises that wherein the information of the pattern of processing and the value that can arrange is upgraded in license.
Get back to Fig. 4, proceed the description of the processing sequence between server and the customer side.When server sends for example above-mentioned XML data shown in Fig. 5, and customer side is when receiving these data, and the customer side machine shows the content information tabulation of XML-based data at the display of customer side machine.
In the Graphics Processing of this content information tabulation, but based on for wherein permitting of above-mentioned every attribute information setting upgrade the pattern processed and settings information carry out tabulation and show.The demonstration example of content information tabulation has been shown among Fig. 7.
By demonstration differently is set, for example, show not rewritable area with white displays writable area territory and with grey, the user is appreciated which field can rewrite.Example shown in Fig. 7 only is an example, and can adopt the structure that wherein shows the field that can rewrite, add and delete with the different colours setting by color.In addition, not only by the color demonstration but also by various types of graphics process, thereby but the edit pattern that each field can be identified each field can be set.
For example, the field 351 shown in Fig. 7 is the data fields that can rewrite attribute information, and field 352 is the data fields that do not allow the attribute information that rewrites.In addition, in the data field 353 of the attribute that has defined the digital value that can arrange, shown the numerical data 1,2,3 that can arrange, and be defined as the field 354 of the value that can arrange for wherein four values (NotYet), (Timed), (Recording), (Recorded), be used for showing that wherein the Graphics Processing that provides the structure of the value that can arrange as combo box is possible.This carries out (referring to Fig. 5) based on the XML data that receive from server in the customer side machine.
The Graphics Processing pattern of the contents list shown in Fig. 7 is an example, and the various demonstrations except this Graphics Processing pattern are possible.Please note, with the corresponding edit file of every attribute information that receives from server, namely various types of information such as whether permit rewritings, whether permit add or the input data layout of deletion, license, the value that can arrange by the pattern demonstration that can identify them with the user.This Graphics Processing allows the user effectively to carry out suitable Data Update.
Get back to server among Fig. 4 and the processing sequence between the customer side, proceed explanation.At step S23, customer side is carried out content information based on the attribute information (XML data) that receives from server and is shown (for example, Fig. 7).If necessary, then in each field executing data upgrade such as data rewrite, add, deletion.
In addition, at step S25, the attribute information that will comprise the data after the renewal sends to server.Attribute information after server will upgrade is stored in it self the storage unit.That is, process with the renewal of carrying out metadata corresponding to the respective meta-data of the content of the attribute information after upgrading with the attribute information rewriting after upgrading.In server, finish renewal and process, then at step S26, finish notice to customer side transmission renewal and finish thus attribute information renewal processing.
Describing obtaining of attribute information in the customer side device with reference to the treatment scheme of figure 8 processes and upgrades processing procedure.
In step S111, the customer side device is carried out to the obtain request of server proposition for attribute information.As mentioned above, this is to carry out as the processing that sends the order [X_GETSchema] of for example having added the class appointment to server.
At step S112, customer side receives the attribute information from server as the XML data, and at step S113, based on the attribute information that receives, customer side produces demonstration information (UI) and shows this demonstration information at display, in this demonstration information (UI), the user can identify and upgrade license/prohibited mode, that is, whether permit that rewriteeing processing, interpolation processing or deletion processes the data layout of permission and the data value of permission.For example, demonstration information is the contents list of describing with reference to figure 7.
At step S114, the user upgrades the content information executing data on the display that is presented at the customer side device and processes, and the information after step S115 sends renewal to server.When the renewal in the server is finished dealing with, at step S116, receive as renewal finish dealing with the notice reply (Ack) to finish processing.
As mentioned above, structure of the present invention is such, for the individual element of composition as the metadata of the characteristic information of content, namely for every attribute information, the edit file of its permission is added to the XML data and sent to customer side from server, then in the customer side device, based on the XML data that receive, generate and show that as user interface editor that user wherein can identify every attribute information allows the content information tabulation of pattern.Thereby the user can be effectively and is positively carried out suitable editing and processing to every attribute information.
(reproducing content based on the attribute information that obtains is specified)
As mentioned above, in structure of the present invention, from server detailed attribute information is sent to customer side.Foregoing description focuses on that the editing and processing of attribute information provides in the customer side, and customer side can be processed by receiving from the more suitable content playback of the detailed attributes information and executing of server.
When obtaining as mentioned above the attribute that forms with the corresponding metadata of content, the class of the content that customer side can given server has, thereby getattr information.
In server, each class is managed with hierarchical structure, and can be provided as the subclass of child's class of a class.For example, be set to the class relevant with music (Music) with various types of.For example, the class as relevant with music (Music) is provided with class as shown in Figure 9.
As shown in Figure 9, be provided with various types of, such as song (tune), disc (album), school (genre), collected the disc case (album cabinet) of a plurality of discs in each.Customer side is specified these classes and is sent mentioned order [X_GETSchema] to server and obtains request as attribute information, thereby can obtain the attribute information corresponding to the content of specified class.
The appointment of class allows the user to obtain the information that can process what attribute in the class.Although be not that all objects in the specified class all have public attribute, server only returns public attribute in the present example.For example, have attribute (A) and (B) and subclass (2) has in the situation of attribute A and C in the subclass (1) of specified class, server only returns the attribute A that both have.
Customer side also can send to server does not have the order [X_GETSchema] of class appointment to obtain request as attribute information.In case receive the order [X_GETSchema] that does not have the class appointment, server is to the list information of customer side transmission by the class of server admin.This processing permission customer side obtains the category information by server admin.In this way, after the category information that obtains by server admin, customer side can send the order [X_GETSchema] with certain kinds appointment to server, and this makes it possible to wherein accurately to have specified the attribute information by the class of server admin to obtain.
As shown in Figure 9, these classes can be carried out various classification, and the user can specify any class to obtain the attribute information of specified class.
Music (Music) content and image (Image) content with various pattern storage in server.That is, such as the packed data pattern-dependent of ATRAC3, ATRAC3plus, MPEG2, MPEG4 in memory contents and difference.And the recording quality of content is that so-called recording quality grade is also different.
Simultaneously, in the customer side device, data can be different by the data pattern of its device processes.Preferably, each customer side receives the data of the E.B.B. that can be processed by himself and carries out reproduction processes.
In structure of the present invention, the attribute information that sends to customer side from server also comprises the information about the quality of data of content.Server produces the content information that comprises data pattern information, and the content information that transmission produces can be determined the processing power in the equipment on the customer side to customer side by this data pattern information.
For example, server stores for example is used as attribute information as the information about the data of content as shown in figure 10 corresponding to the metadata of content, and it is provided for customer side in response to the request of obtaining of the attribute information from customer side.
Figure 10 shows the figure of the example of a part of attribute information that offers customer side.Show attribute name (Property Name), data type (Type) such as digital value and alphabetic string, indicate whether to permit a plurality of (Multiple), the attribute description (Property Description) of a plurality of existence.The size data of total size (total Size) indication initial content.The container indication is as the object of the file of memory contents.The T.T. of total duration (total Duration) instruction content.Recording quality grade (record Quality Level) is that indication is as the data of the quality grade of the recording quality of content.For example, allow 1 to 7 round values, and setting is 3=2Mbps, 4=4Mbps, 5=8Mbps etc. in the following manner.
The form of original document form (original File Format) indication initial content data before conversion.For example, be shown as mime type (MIMEType).Initial encoding and decoding (Original Codec) indication is as the encoding and decoding of the coded data pattern of the front initial content data of conversion.
As shown in figure 11, as the value that arranges of the initial code (Original Codec) of attribute, namely permissible value (Allowed Value) sets in advance.That is, the pre-defined permissible value of various settings is such as MPEG1L3, ATRAC3, ATRAC3plus ..JPEG, the ..MPEG4V of the various data compression process patterns of indication.Corresponding to the data compression process pattern of each permissible value (AllowedValue) as shown in the explanation of Figure 11.
Get back to Figure 10, proceed the description of attribute information.Initial resolution (original Resolution) is the resolution information about the primary data of view data.Resource protocol information (res@protocolInfo) is the information about the file layout of resource.[res] indicates it is resource information.Except primary data, server can also have by the information that obtains with various patterns conversion primary datas as resource data.Data after the conversion are resource datas.
Resource encoding and decoding (res@av:codec) are the coded data pattern information about resource data, to this pre-defined permissible value of various settings, MPEG1L3, ATRAC3, ATRAC3plus ..JPEG, the ..MPEG4V of the designation data compression tupe shown in Figure 11.The size of resource size (res@size) indexed resource data.
Attribute information shown in Figure 10 is the information that server has as the characteristic information corresponding to content, and indication can offer the part of the information of customer side.Obtain request according to the attribute information from customer side, the various types of content informations except shown in this Fig those are offered customer side from server.
Customer side can receive and identify as customer side want the recording quality rank of the data recording quality of the content reproduced, as the details of the coding/decoding information of coding mode, thereby customer side can select the optimal data pattern in the customer side equipment to send with request.Thereby, reception and the reproduction of optimum content-data that can the executive basis customer side.
When attribute information was sent to customer side from server, customer side, and sent content-data to server with the data pattern of identification and sends request according to pre-stored procedure identification optimum data pattern for himself equipment based on attribute information.
Describe the sending and receiving of content with reference to Figure 12 and process sequence.At first, at step S31, the content information that the customer side request server has.As mentioned above, send order [X_GETSchema] to server.Customer side is from such as specifying a class the above-mentioned class of music (Audio), video (Video), picture (photo), and carries out being included in the request of obtaining of the attribute information in the specified class.For example, the order [X_GETSchema] of having added the class name is sent to server.
In case receive the request of obtaining to attribute information from customer side, server for example obtains respective meta-data corresponding to the content of specified class from memory storage, and generates the XML data that comprise the attribute information that will send to customer side based on the metadata of obtaining.Then, in step 32, the XML data that generate are sent to customer side.
In structure of the present invention, in response to being that customer side is to the request to content information of server from the user, server according to corresponding to the metadata of content with the recording quality rank of content, put into attribute information as the details of the coding/decoding information of coding mode, and send attribute information as the XML data to customer side.Especially, server generates and comprises the content information that can judge the data pattern information of the processing power in the equipment on the customer side by it, be recording quality rank and as the coding/decoding information of the coding mode data pattern information as content-data, and send the content information that generates to customer side.
In step S33, based on the XML data that formed by attribute information that receive from server, the customer side device according to the encoding and decoding of himself equipment namely decode processing capacity etc. definite can be the optimal data pattern of quality data with data reproduction wherein, for example,
Recording quality rank=3
Coding=MPEG4.
Definite processing of this transmission content-data pattern is based at automatically determining corresponding to the comparison between the function of the attribute information of content and himself equipment of receiving from server according to pre-stored program in customer side.
But, can adopt following structure, in this structure, in the data pattern information of display demonstration based on attribute information, as top content information tabulation with reference to figure 7 descriptions, and the content-based resource information of user selects to send the content-data pattern.
At step S34, send determined content-data pattern information to server from customer side, and server selects resource content based on the information that receives, and send content to customer side at step S35.At step S36, customer side is carried out from the reproduction processes of the content of server reception.
In this way, the content information that has as server, customer side can receive the recording quality grade of content and as the details of the coding/decoding information of encoding/decoding mode as attribute information, thereby the optimal data that can realize being suitable for himself functions of the equipments is selected and the quality data reproduction.
[functional configuration of server and customer side]
As above 2 hardware configuration of having described server and customer side device with reference to the accompanying drawings.CPU as control module carries out above-mentioned various types of processing according to the program in each storage unit that is stored in server and customer side.
The processing of carrying out for the CPU of for example server side, processing is such, and according to the request from customer side, server obtains corresponding to the metadata of content and based on attribute information and produces the XML data, thereby send basis from the content of the request msg pattern of customer side, etc.The processing of customer side is such, and customer side is based on the XML data displaying contents information list on display that is comprised of attribute information that receives from server.This processing comprises that the generation of demonstration information processes, in this demonstration information, and can the recognition data edit file to every attribute information as the component of content information.In addition, carry out being used for determining based on the function and content resource information of himself equipment will be to the processing of the data pattern of the content of server request, and the processing of the reproducing control of the content that receives etc.
Basically, under the control as the CPU of the control module of server and customer side device, carry out above-mentioned processing, be described as carrying out the functional configuration of the required customer side of above-mentioned processing and the functional configuration of server with reference to Figure 13 and 14.
Figure 13 shows the block diagram of the function of tonic chord configuration of server.Grouping sending and receiving unit 501 sends grouping and receives grouping from customer side to customer side.Grouping generates and the analyzing and processing of dividing into groups is processed and received in the generation of analytic unit 502 execution transmission groupings.This processing comprises data storage in the address setting, address designation, data division of grouping, from data acquisition process of data division etc.
The content that content storage unit 503 storages are had by server.This content comprises initial content and the content-data that obtains by the conversion to the initial content executing data.Metadata storage unit 504 are storages as with the storage unit of the metadata of the corresponding characteristic information of content.
In metadata storage unit 504, as mentioned above, stored the attribute information that is formed by metadata, and comprised every attribute information editor's license/prohibition information, allow input data format information, allow data value information of input etc., described editor's enable/disable information for example has data edition information, such as whether permitting rewriting, whether permitting interpolation or deletion etc.
In addition, as mentioned above, also comprised the data pattern of instruction content, namely such as the attribute information of the content-data pattern of recording quality rank and coding/decoding information.
Attribute information acquiring unit 505 obtains request based on the attribute information that receives from customer side, has for example added the grouping of class name to order [X_GETSchema] based on having, and carries out the processing of taking out corresponding to the metadata of specified class from metadata storage unit 504.
XML data generating unit 506 generates the XML data that will send to customer side based on the metadata that attribute information acquiring unit 505 obtains.XML data shown in Fig. 5 are examples.Signal codec device (codec) 507 is carried out the coding of initial content data and is processed and the decoding processing.For example, execution is based on the data-switching of ATRAC3 and MPEG4.Each of server has different codec functions, and therefore according to this function, the resource data that can offer customer side is also different.
Next, the functional configuration of customer side device is described with reference to Figure 14.Grouping sending and receiving unit 601 sends packets to server and receives grouping from server.Grouping generates and the analyzing and processing of dividing into groups is processed and received in the generation of analytic unit 602 execution transmission groupings.This processing not only comprises the data analysis of storing in the grouping, and comprise the data storage of address setting, address designation such as grouping, data portion, from the processing of the data acquisition process of data division.
Storage unit 603 is stored content included from the grouping that server receives and the coding/decoding information of customer side.
Output unit 604 comprises loudspeaker and the display that is applied to the content playback processing.The content information that display also is used for describing with reference to figure 7 above the output is tabulated.Input block 605 for example is keyboard or other data input device, is used for carrying out to content information list input editing information, i.e. the rewriting of attribute information, interpolation, deletion are processed.
XML data analysis unit 606 is analyzed the XML data that are comprised of attribute information that receive from server, and the content information tabulation of describing with reference to figure 7 above generating based on by analysis data is used for outputting content information and tabulates as the processing of the display of output unit to carry out.
Receive data pattern determining unit 607 namely such as the recording quality rank of content with as the comparison between the function of the attribute information of the coding/decoding information of coding mode and himself equipment, carries out that be used for determining will be from the processing of the optimal data pattern of server reception based on the attribute information that receives from server.
Signal codec device 608 is carried out the decoding processing of the content-data that receives from server etc.For example, carry out based on for example data-switching of ATRAC3, MPEG4.Can adopt following structure, wherein carry out the again coding (re-coding) of decoded data and process and carry out the processing that is stored in storage unit 603 for the data after will encoding again.
On the viewpoint of function, server and customer side have the separately function shown in Figure 13 and 14 and carry out above-mentioned processing.But, please note that the block diagram shown in Figure 13 is the block diagram for explanation function, in fact carry out various handling procedures under the control of the CPU in the hardware configuration of the PC shown in Fig. 2.
Describe the present invention in detail with reference to concrete example.But obviously, those skilled in the art can make amendment to example in the scope that does not deviate from main idea of the present invention and replace.That is, only disclose the present invention with exemplary forms, this exemplary forms should not limit interpretation.In order to judge main idea of the present invention, should be with reference to claims.
Can carry out the processing sequence of describing in the instructions by hardware, software or both complex configuration.Carrying out by software in the situation about processing, having recorded the program of processing sequence is installed in the storer of the computing machine of incorporating specialized hardware into, and carry out by computing machine, perhaps program can be installed in the multi-purpose computer that can carry out various types of processing and can carry out by this computing machine.
For example, program can be pre-recorded on hard disk or ROM (ROM (read-only memory)) as recording medium.Perhaps, program can be temporarily or is for good and all stored (record) on dismountable recording medium, for example floppy disk, CD-ROM (compact disc read-only memory), MO (Magneto optical, magneto-optic) dish, DVD (digital versatile disc), disk, semiconductor memory.Detachable recording medium like this can be used as so-called software package (package software) and provides.
Program not only can be installed on the computing machine from above-mentioned detachable recording medium, and program can be wirelessly transmitted on the computing machine from the download website, perhaps via such as LAN (LAN (Local Area Network)) and the Internet wire transmission to computing machine, and computing machine can receive the program of by this way transmission and it is installed on the recording medium such as the hard disk of incorporating into.
Various types of processing of describing in the instructions not only can be performed with the time order of occurrence according to description, and can be according to the processing power of carrying out the device of processing or optionally parallel or separately execution.In addition, the system in this instructions has the logic assembled configuration of a plurality of equipment, and has the equipment of each self-configuring and unnecessary in same frame.
Industrial applicibility
As mentioned above, according to structure of the present invention, thereby the server of gathering around substantial characteristic information is configured based on receiving that the content information from customer side obtains the request extraction corresponding to the metadata of content, and based on the attribute information generating content information as the component of metadata, and be configured to data edition information that every attribute information of each setup of attribute is allowed and above-mentioned data edition information is sent to customer side.Thereby customer side can be effectively and positively based on the suitable editing and processing of the information and executing attribute information that receives.
In addition, according to structure of the present invention, thereby the generation that reception is configured to carry out demonstration information from the customer side of the content information of server is processed and is shown this demonstration information at display, can be for every attribute information recognition data edit file as the component of the content information that receives in demonstration information.Thereby customer side can be effectively and positively based on the suitable editing and processing of received information and executing attribute information.
In addition, according to the present invention, structure is such, server generates and to comprise the content information that can judge the data pattern information of the processing power in the equipment of customer side by it, as the data pattern information that can send to from server the content-data of customer side, and this content information sent to customer side such as the coding/decoding information of the recording quality class information of instruction content recording quality or instruction content coded system.Thereby customer side can be processed based on the suitable content choice of the information and executing that receives effectively.
In addition, according to the present invention, structure is such, is based on the class that is set to classifying content as the metadata of the content character information of managing at server side and is managed.Thereby license is from the processing of obtaining of the attribute information with class appointment of customer side, therefore, can specify such as song, disc, school, collect disc case various types of with getattr information of a plurality of discs in each.